Consider that I live in FL when I tell you this, you know the sun is always shining and beating things up. I can;t help but agree with the integrity of the VCP hatches, but in FL, you'll be lucky if they last you a year. I recomend either Kayaksport hatches or Gapachi. They are just as good (watertight), and they last forever. I run a shop locally and I sell 5 sets of VCP hatches for every set of Kayaksport or Gaspachi. Thats not because people like them, its because they have to replace them. If you do go with VCP, keep either 303 Protectant on them or Armoral.